This course focuses upon the developmental and evolutionary processes that have given rise to a wide diversity of multicellular organisms. We consider many levels of biological organization, from molecular and cellular to individuals and populations. Topics include meiosis and sexual reproduction, animal and plant development, evolutionary mechanisms, and speciation, with examples from the three main groups of multicellular organisms (animals, plants, and fungi). Readings are drawn from a variety of sources, including the recent biological literature.

Class Format: lecture/discussion/laboratory, six hours per week

Requirements/Evaluation: evaluation will be based on hour tests, a final exam, three lab reports, and problem sets